Singapore is extremely beautiful, modern and clean and regarded as one of the safest countries in the world. Located in South East Asia just off the coast of Malaysia, Singapore is the only city-island nation in the world. Being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, travelling in Singapore is undoubtedly more expensive than other Asian countries.  

Although it is very small country, Singapore offers a vast array of different cultures from Malaysian, Indian, Chinese, Arabic to English and caters for all types of travellers with a wide range of attractions. From luxurious hotels, shopping malls, adventure, architecture, food, art and nature, Singapore has it all!

Most travellers will usually come to Singapore for only a few days to tick it off the ‘bucket list’ whilst travelling in Asia. I visited Singapore for 4 days before travelling to Bali and felt it was enough to see all the major sights and attractions.

Here are my favourite things to do whilst in Singapore (in no particular order):

Visit the spectacular Gardens by the bay and watch the light show

Make sure to check out these enormous futuristic botanical gardens which were created in 2012 and cost over 1 billion! Totalling over 100 hectares, they are one of the largest artificial gardens in the world.

There are a few different attractions to see at Gardens by the Bay- some are free and others have an entrance fee.

Supertrees

The most popular attraction is the gorgeous supertrees which are free to visit. There are 18 trees in total of different sizes and together they are called ‘Supertree grove’. The trees are covered with thousands of plants and flowers and built with the latest environmental technology. Every evening there is a fantastic music and lightshow at 7.45 and 8.45pm. The largest Supertree also has a restaurant ‘The IndoChine’ where you can enjoy food and drinks whilst watching the show.

Cost– Gardens and light show-free

–Flower dome and Cloud Forest

The flower dome and the cloud forest are two huge energy efficient glass conservatories containing thousands of different plants and exhibitions.  The flower dome is the worlds largest greenhouse and houses exotic plants from all over the world and the cloud forest resembles the jungle with waterfalls, caves and a canopy walk- you really feel like you’re in the jungle (especially with the humidity and temperature in there!). 

Cost

  • Two conservatories- Adult $20 USD (£16.00), Child (3-12 years old): $10 USD (£8.00).
  • One conservatory- Adult: $9 USD (£7.00), Child (3-12 years old): $6 USD (£5.00)

See https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/attractions/cloud-forest/visitor-information.html#:~:text=Details%3A,come%2Dfirst%2Dserved%20basis to book tickets.

–Skywalk

The skywalk is a huge 128m walkway which connects 6 of the Supertrees. From the skywalk you can admire the views of the gardens, trees and Marina Bay Sands.

Cost– Adult:$6.00 USD (£5.00) and child (3-12)-$4 USD (£4.00)

Where is it? 18, Marina Gardens Drive directly behind Marina Bay Sands. It is approximately a 5 minutes’ walk from MRT Bayfront Station

Opening times: All day from 9am-9pm- Flower dome and Cloud forest. The outdoor area is open from 5am-2am.

When is the best time to go?

The best time to visit is between 3-9 as it is a perfect time to visit the cloud forest and the flower dome and watch the amazing light show.

Take the cable car to Sentosa Island

Sentosa is a small island just off the coast of Singapore offering a range of attractions, hotels, spas and gorgeous sandy beaches. Take the cable car from the mainland across to Sentosa Island. The two cable car lines, Mount Faber and Sentosa allow you to take in the main sights of Singapore and offer panoramic views from above. You can also ride the cable car at sunset and enjoy a dining experience if you wish. In my opinion, the cable cars are the best way of travelling to/from Sentosa island.

Where is it?

Sentosa line begins at Merlion station and the Mount Faber line begins at Mount Faber station.

Opening hours: 8.45am- 10pm every day. Last boarding is 9.30pm.

How much is it?  (Prices are in USD and converted to gpb on average)

Mount Faber and Sentosa line- Adult- $25.00 USD (£20.00) and child: $18.00 USD (£14.50).

Sentosa Line- Adult- $10.00 USD (£8.50) and child $7.00 (£6.00).

Mount Faber-Adult- $24.00 (£19.00) and child:$16.00 (£13.00)

Evening rider: Adult/child $18.00 USD (£14.00)

Prices can be found here: https://www.onefabergroup.com/get-your-tickets-cable-car

Unleash your inner child at Universal Studios, Sentosa Island

Whilst on Sentosa Island, why not visit the famous Universal Studios and experience the thrilling rides, award winning shows, daily entertainment and international dining cuisines. The park offers 7 themed zones with a range of different rides for all ages. Experience the Transformers 3D ride, visit Far Far Away or take a thrilling ride on the worlds tallest rollercoaster, Battlestar Galactica.

Where is it? Sentosa Island

Opening hours: Everyday from 9.00am-10pm.

How much is it?

One day ticket- Adult (Age 13-59) – SGD81 ($58.00USD) (£46.00 GBP)

Child (Age 4-12) – SGD61 ($44.00USD) (£35.00 GBP)

Ticket prices and information can be found at https://www.rwsentosa.com/en/attractions/universal-studios-singapore/tickets

Take in the gorgeous sunset views from Marina Bay Sands Viewpoint

Whenever you see pictures of Singapore, this place is usually the first thing you will see – one of the most famous and luxurious hotels in Asia. It opened in 2010 and to be honest, is more of a resort than a hotel. It has numerous restaurants, the world’s largest atrium casino, a shopping mall, a museum, theatre and a skating rink. The three towers are connected by the world’s largest rooftop infinity pool and the observation deck gives fabulous 360 panoramic views of the city and the bay. At 57 floors high you can enjoy a spectacular unrestricted view of Singapore. We went to the observation deck to watch the sunset and it was gorgeous- I would totally recommend!

The infinity pool is sadly exclusively for registered hotel guests only… bummer! So yeah, if you have the money and want to take that famous Insta pic overlooking the city from the world’s largest pool, you need to splash out and get yourself a room here.

Where is it?

10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956

Opening hours

Daily 9.30am-10pm on Monday to Friday

Until 11pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

How much is it?

  • $26 ($19.00 USD- £15.50) (Adult)
  • $23 ($16.50 USD- £13.00) Senior Citizen > 65 years old)
  • $20 ($14.50 USD- £ 11.50) Child, 2 – 12 years old)
  • Free (Child < 2 years old, and Hotel Guests)

More ticket information can be found at https://www.marinabaysands.com/attractions/sands-skypark.html

Enjoy a Singapore sling at Raffles Hotel

This is a must do whilst in Singapore and something I probably wouldn’t have known about, however my grandpa used to live here whilst doing his RAF service and told me how famous this place was for its Singapore Slings.

The Singapore Sling was created in 1917 by the Raffles bar tender, Ngiam Tong Boon. In addition to creating the drink, Ngiam was famous for eating peanuts and throwing the shells onto the floor. Whilst in the long bar, this tradition still exists. This is the only place in Singapore you can actually throw something on the floor and not receive a hefty fine, so enjoy the complimentary nuts with your drink and throw the shells away!

The bar sells a wide range of Singapore Slings- I enjoyed the classic but there are plenty to choose from!

How much is it?

It is free to enter, however it will probably be one of the most expensive cocktails you’ll ever purchase. $30 Singapore dollars which is around $20USD so yeah pretty pricey, especially if you’re on a backpacker’s budget, but you are paying for the traditional experience. If you’re on a tighter budget, you can visit the hotel and wander around its huge complex.

Where is it?

Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188719. Take the metro (MRT) and get off at the Esplande Metro stop and then follow the signs. It will take you around 5 minutes to walk from the station.

Opening hours

  • Sunday – Thursday & Public Holiday:
  • 11:00am to 12:00am (Last Order)
  • Friday, Saturday & Eve of Public Holiday:
  • 11:00am to 1:00am (Last Order)

For more info check out the website here: https://www.raffles.com/singapore/dining/long-bar/

Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari

One of Singapore’s biggest attractions is its famous zoo. Singapore Zoo has three sections- the Zoo, the night safari and the river safari. They are all located on the same site next to each other. The zoo houses a wide variety of different animals from all around the world and supports many conversation projects.

The night safari was a unique experience which allowed you to go around the zoo at night and see different animals that are active at night. You can enjoy am open-sided tram which takes you around the park on a guided tour and tells you about all the animals. You are also able to walk certain trails if you wish and watch the creatures of the night show.

Opening times:

  • Night safari:7.15pm-12.00pm
  • Singapore zoo:8.30am -6.00pm
  • River safari- 10.00am-7pm.
  • (Recommended two hours in each zoo)

How much is it?

Where is it?

80 Mandai Lake Road Singapore 729826. You can take the train to Ang Mo Kio MRT Station (NS16) and then take Bus 138 from the bus interchange. It is approximately 13km and will take around 45 minutes in total to get there.

Shopping in the malls

Singapore is the perfect place for a shopaholic- from boutiques, shoe shops, electronics to home appliances, it has it all. I felt that wherever we would walk, we always ended up entering a new shopping mall; they seemed to be on every road.  There are a huge number of shopping malls, plazas and bazars in Singapore and depending what type of experience you are looking for you will need to research further into which mall to visit. Some of my favourite are: Paragon, City Plaza, Vivo City, Far East Plaza, Marina Bay and Clarke Quay to name a few. The markets are a great place for grabbing a few bargains- The editor’s market, Pasarbella and the flea market on Bugis street.

Opening times: Most malls are open 7 days a week from early morning till around 10pm. Check specific opening times for different malls that you wish to visit.

Where are they? Located all over Singapore, like I said on pretty much every road, you will easily find them!

Experience the best views of the city at night from the highest alfresco bar in the world- 1-Altitude

This bar is named 1-Altitude and offers the highest views in the whole city. With an extensive drink’s menu, fine dining and a premier nightclub, 1-altitude is a great place to visit if you want to experience Singapore’s vibrant nightlife and enjoy a 360 panoramic view of Singapore. It is a fancy place so the dress code is smart- no flip flops.

Where is it?

Located in the financial district the bar is on the top of 1 Raffles Place, Singapore 048616.

How much is it?

Entrance to the bar is expensive at $35 SD ($25 USD/ £20) per guest (before 9pm) The price includes two drinks. After 9pm the price is more expensive.

Opening times: Gallery and bar- from 6pm-late daily.

Other things to do in Singapore

  • Enjoy the food at Little India and Chinatown
  • See the Merlions
  • Haji lane
  • Botanic gardens

Hope you enjoyed reading my list of things to do whilst in Singapore. As I said before, even though Singapore is only a small country, there is a lot to do and see here and regardless what you get up to, you will have a great time here.

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